People of influence: Flossie Hill

She owned and operated Fort Myers' first department store. Her first place, a women's clothing store, opened in Fort Myers on Sept. 18, 1905, when the town's population was between 3,000 and 4,000.

These words appeared on dress boxes: "The Ladies Trading Place."

Flossie and her mom, Mary, were businesswomen ahead of their time. They ran a boarding house called The Hill House. In winter of 1896-97, according to historian Karl Grismer, it was one of three hotels in Fort Myers.

One of the early investors in the store was Olive Stout, a former owner of The Fort Myers Press. Olive and Flossie were organizers in 1900 of a women's club.

In 1909, Flossie opened a 5-and-10-cent store, another Fort Myers first. She sold it in 1913 to concentrate on her main store.

She died in 1956. Stock was divided among employees who had more than 20 years experience at the store.